The recently formed Maltese
contemporary artists’ group, START, has organized a unique artistic event in
a massive alternative space in the capital city, Valletta. The space is
Pinto Stores in the harbour area, a place with historical associations with
the Knights of St John, the British, and naturally, the shipping trade
within the Grand Harbour. The exhibition will be open to the public until
2 March 2003, one week before the referendum about EU accession.

The name BORDERS
refers to many layers of meaning. First of all, the site itself is next to
the sea terminal, where thousands of tourists disembark every year. Secondly, the proximity of the event to the referendum means that some of
the artists reacted to the current political situation in Malta, a situation
that involves a decision about future “borders”. Lastly, all the artists of
START are trying to break accepted artistic conventions in Malta and
introduce new ways of interacting with a space. In this last sense, the
artists are trangressing artistic “borders”. For instance, the site is
currently in a process of change: it is being restored architecturally to be
transformed into a commercial area for tourists. Hence, the artists of
START had to install their works in a building that was (and still is) in a
state of flux. This involved several difficulties, but was also perceived
by all participating artists as a challenge.

To
help publicize BORDERS, most of the artists in the exhibition were featured
in the popular TV award for the Malta Song for Europe in the first week of
February. BORDERS was co-curated by START and Richard Davies, practising
artist and Principal in Fine Art (Post Graduate Studies) at the Kent
Institute of Art and Design, U.K.. Davies came over to Malta to inaugurate
the show on 6th February.

BORDERS is open to the public
on Saturdays and Sundays between 10.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. until 2
March,2003. Apublication about the event will be launched at a later
stage.

BORDERS closing event: On Sunday 2 March at 7.30 p.m.,
everyone is invited to the closing event of Borders. This will be a
cross-disciplinary event, bringing together visual art, literature, theatre
and music in short performances. Participating groups and individuals will
include Inizjamed,Teatru Marta Kwitt (represented by Immanuel
Mifsud), ItalianpercussionistSimone Mongelli (in picture, right) and
Gruppi